Grain-binder



(No Model.) v r R. E. STRAIT.

GRAIN BINDER.

Patented Nov; 13, 1883 N. PETERS. PMln-Lhhugnphan wuhin mu. 04 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- RANSOM E. STRAIT, OF GALESBURG, MICHIGAN.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,509, dated November13, 18 83, i

' Application filed September 7, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may. concern Be it known thatI, RANsoM E. STRAIT, a

citizen of the United States,residing at Galesburg, county of Kalamazoo,State of Michigan,

have invented anew and useful Grain-Binder,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of grainbinders which have a groovearound the cutter-bar platform, in which is located an endless chainbelt carrying a bundle-gatherer, for 001- lecting thegrain as it fallsupon the platform and forming it into bundles preparatory to beingbound, and my invention has for its object certain improvements in saidparts, hereinafter described and claimed, whereby the bundle may bebound immediately by the side of the chain-groove, the operationfacilitated, and superfluous auxiliaries heretofore used dispensed with.l

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a topview of my improved binder; Fig. 2, same, showing a gavel bound; Fig. 3,rear view of the machine, and Fig. 4 a view of the graingatherer.

Bis the cutter-bar table, T the cutter-bar, and-A the drive-wheel.Sprocket-wheelsi are located at the corners of the table, Figs. 1 and 3.Four or more wheels may be used atwhatever location desired, to keep thechain-band c, which they carry, in properposition to effect the purposefor which it is intended. The chain c and wheels 1' arelocated below theupper surface of the table, said chain moving around in a channel orgroove. To one of the wheels power-gear may be connected from thedrive-wheelA. 1' shows a broken shaft which may be used for thispurpose. The grain is compressed and swept around to the place ofbinding by a grain-gatherer, e, pivotally connected with the chain c.

The construction thus far described is similar in general to thatheretofore known; but in this device the binding mechanism is locatedimmediately by the side of the chain-groove, Fig. 2, and the gatherer eis provided with two bars, a a, pivoted together, as shown, andpivotally connected with standard R at P, the whole so arranged andlocated in relation to the place of binding that the gatherer e sweeps 7the bundle around to a position parallel with the cutter-bar and by theside of the chaindisengaged from the bundle and moves on around thetable to gather another bundle, Fig. 2. Any suitable needle-bar andknotter 5 may be located at the proper place by the side of thechaingroove.

f is a guideboard which the butts of the v grain-straw engage as thebundle is swept around to the place of binding. This keeps the straweven. The end of the guard-board f next to the cutter-bar is hinged in amanner that the rear end may be moved in or out and fixed in such aposition, according to the length of the grain, that the portion of thebundle around which the band is to be located will be at the right pointto receive said band when the gatherer 6 moves away from the bundle.

In the operation the gatherer e strikes in at the sideof the grain, asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and sweeps it around the platform, withthe butts of the straw against the guide-board f, to the place ofbinding. As the rear end of arm a at this juncture of the operation iscarried rearwardly, Fig. 2, the gath- 7 5 erer e is disengaged from thebundle, as before explained.

By this improved construction the bundle is bound immediately by theside of the chain groove, thus obviating the necessity of trans- 8oferring it to other localities to be bound, and dispensing withcumbersome mechanism.

I do not claim the combination of binding mechanism with an endlesschain carrying a grain-gatherer adapted to collect the grain and sweepit around the platform; but

W hat I do claim is- The combination, with the platform, bindingmechanism located by the side of the chaingroove, and a guide-boardhinged at the end 0 nearest the cutter-bar, of a chain-band carrying apivoted gatherer, said gat-herer having arms composed of the two partspivoted together and to the standard in relation to the needle-bar andguide-board shown, whereby said gatherer sweeps the bundle around to thepositions specified with the butts engaging the guide-board, and movesaway from it when in said position, all substantially as set forth.

RANSOM E. STRAIT.

Witnesses:

' JOHN H. CHASE,

ERNEST E. SWAN.

